The Journey 11/7

This morning I'm pondering things I learned at the conference. In particular, I am trying to decide how I feel about Dr. Garth's complete turn-around from "protein, protein, protein" to "you don't need protein, eat veggies."

Someone spoke up and told Garth that she almost felt betrayed by his message, and I understand why she feels that way. We've had the protein message drummed into our heads for so long that it's a little freaky to suddenly have the message changed.

On the other hand, I am tempted to try at least a modified vegetarian diet. I don't think I can give up eggs, cheese, and seafood.  It would be a relief though to be able to enjoy veggies and salads without worrying if I'm getting in enough protein. And I love nuts and beans.

Speaking of nuts - well, seeds, actually - in the lunch yesterday there was what I think were pumpkin seeds. They were delicious, but they set off a big trigger for me. I used to buy this absolutely wonderful sunflower seed bread before my surgery. Those seeds yesterday made me so hungry for that bread that I stopped at Randall's on the way home and bought a loaf of heavily seeded whole grain bread. Fortunately, it didn't taste the same, and I'm taking 99% of the loaf over to my daughter's house this morning.

On the upside, I weighed again this morning and I'm down from my first weigh-in by 1/2 lb.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

That speech is one reason I didn't go to the conference. I've gone to the past four ASMBS conventions, and the Registered Dietitians are still on board with the 60-90 grams of protein per day. There's no new information that has changed that. And animal sources of protein are complete, that hasn't changed.

The other benefit of solid protein (fish, chicken, turkey, lean meats) is that it gets you full and keeps you full. Other foods don't stay with you as well.

Here's another big point---if you eat less meat, what are you going to eat more of? Most likely processed carbs.

And this fact hasn't changed---if you don't eat enough protein, you will lose muscle tissue.

PS---ASMBS = American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery

One more point---can you tell this is a hot button for me?? When a person has a full-sized stomach and is able to consume a large amount of food several times a day, it works fine to eat mostly vegetables. The volume of food is such that plenty of protein is ingested. On the other hand, when one has WLS, it significantly reduces the volume of food consumed. We have to choose carefully what goes into the limited space. Therefore, protein should take up a larger percentage of what we eat. Protein and produce is our mantra, and should continue to be, in my opinion as an RD and a WLS patient.

lynne,

I'll crawl out of my hole for this one. It certainly will not be a habit but for this I will.  I am expressing an opinion here that is mine and mine alone.  Hope we can all still get along after.

I have tried to do veggie with minimal protein, for financial reasons and I was pretty miserable. I also read up on the gluten free and can't agree with it.  Although, in theory, it seems to make sense, we need protein, plain and simple. And in all my reading, there has been far too much negative about it. Most say it's not right for those with 'special dietary needs'  AND do not have gluten allergies. Okay, back in my hole.

Well - My nut and doc always has said BALANCED diet......get protein first...and then fitin veggies....but I won't be changing anything except my vitamin regimen.............

Luv you all !  

Dr. Garth did my surgery and I was and am extremely confident in his abilities as a surgeon. But I will not blindly follow this new 'thing' of his. Where is the documentation, the research, to back up what he says? He stated himself when he tried to research the theory he found nothing. And even if there WAS some study out there proving that living in this mystical 'blue zone' is the healthy way, it has nothing to do with my altered RNY system.

He started this speech with me last March when I went to him for my 6mo checkup. To give him the benefit of the doubt I tried a vegetarian diet, ate more 'Mediterranean', no meet but I still ate my cottage cheese. At the end of that first month I felt like a train wreck. Despite my good lab report the first of March, my energy was low, it had been hard to hit my calorie goals as well as my protein goals and it seemed like my hair was falling out again. And I'll just barely mention the gas from all the beans and some other veggies! The Beano he said to take never worked very well for me. Within a week of going back to my regular menu of mostly chicken, fish and turkey, I felt almost normal. I decided then that what I was doing wasn't broken and I wasn't going to try to fix it!

I know how Chris feels...there IS a sense of abandonment and some disappointment. We trusted him to have OUR best interests at heart, to guide us in the best way to achieve our goal, but it surely doesn't feel that way now. His little speech felt more like an infomercial at 2am. He was very enthusiastic! Very intense. The message is "Trust me because I say it's true".....I don't think so! I'll give him that we could all eat healthier meets, make the effort to buy free range and organic whenever possible.

I'm not a nutritionist so I can't say everything he said was wrong, just that his 180º change is information from a year ago is too dramatic for me. At least for me I'm going to have to have proof. Bariatric proof!

I'm just really disappointed in Dr. Garth. One reason I chose him to do my surgery was because I always got the feeling that he really did care about me and my health and eventual results. So I guess the real disappointment is that he truly expects us to buy into this without some kind of study, research...something to back it all up for bariatric patients. How can he believe all this without it?

He did cite studies of populations that live longer, and they ate a lot of vegetables, but I don't remember that they were completely vegetarian.

I still am not convinced and will be putting a lot of thought to this.

No and they weren't Bariatric patients either.

Absolutely, Dee.  There is NO doubt in MY mind I need a higher amount of protien.  Reading your reply up above, I've allowed myself to slack on protein and I end up with some of the similiar symptoms as you had.

I drag butt when I don't eat enough protein.

Hi Lynne,

Just wanted to let you know that I walked away from the Conf. feeling the same way after Dr. Garth's speech.  I did take a few minutes to have a brief chat with him, but in the end I just walked away feeling a bit confused and trapped.  It was not necessary a bad chat, I just feel disconnected and as if he had no clue what daily life is like for an average busy working mom.

He basically just suggested I give up more of my time and $$$$ for a new eating plan.


Lisa